Chitaranjan Mahto spills beans on red activity

Suspected rebel spills beans on red activityOUR CORRESPONDENT

Jamshedpur, Dec. 18: Chitaranjan Mahto, who the police claim is a veteran Maoist, is learn to have told the police about his “indirect involvement” in the December 10 attack on the Tata-Kharagpur Passenger at Chakulia.

The police have claimed that Mahto also told them about “at least a dozen” rebels who were involved in the incident.

Mahto was today forwarded to the Chakradharpur railway court. But, on the way to the court, the Tatanagar superintendent of railway police is said to have interrogated him.

During the questioning, Mahto is learnt to have divulged important information about the attack on the passenger train and also gave “crucial information” about Naxalite operations in the districts bordering Bengal, Orissa and Jharkhand.

Additional director-general of police (railway) Kumud Chowdhary told The Telegraph over the phone that Mahto was a “high-profile” rebel who propagates extremism among the villagers. “We have solid material evidence, suggesting Chito Mahto was a conduit in spreading Naxalism. We take the arrest as a big achievement,” said Chowdhury.

N.S. Gautam, a GRP inspector, said they will soon move court to take the rebel on a five-day police remand.

Mahto was arrested yesterday after Bengal and Jharkhand police conducted a joint raid.